On last week's Create Daily blog post, i went over the hairs/bristles of paint brushes. We are continuing our discussion of paint brushes, in particular the shapes. There are so many different shapes and sizes out there depending on the "medium." i am just going to cover some of the basics shapes that are fairly common and not dive into "specialty" brushes.
Each brush shape has a specific purpose and usually a technique to go along with the shape. Here's a look at a few different shapes
round/pointed round - A round is just like it sounds, a round or pointed round shape. They have round ferrules and come in short & long handles. One of the most useful brushes for details, washes, fill, etc. It can make thin to thick lines. A pointed round is usually used for fine detail. These brushes come in natural, bristle, & synthetic fibers and are good all mediums.
script/liner - Scripts and liners are narrow brushes with long hairs. They have round ferrules and usually come in short handles. They are used for delicate work like lettering, outling, or highlighting. They come in natural and synthetic fibers and are usually used in watercolor painting. However i do have some synthetic ones i use with acrylic and india ink.
filbert/egbert - Filberts are flat in shape with an oval toe. They have flat ferrule and come in short and long handles. Egberts are very similar with longer hairs. The soft rounded edges of both these brushes make it suitable for blending since they don't have a precise edge. They come in natural, bristle, & synthetic fibers and are typically used for oils and acrylics.
flat - A flat is a square-edged brush with medium to long hairs. They have a flat ferrule and come in both short and long handles. Another versatile brush and it holds a lot of paint and is easy to maneuver. Typically used for bold sweeping strokes. You can also get a crisp hard edge with these brushes. They come in natural, bristle, & sythetic fibers and are generally used in all mediums.
angle - An angle brush has hairs cut at an angle at the toe. Sometimes called an Angle shader or Angle Bright. It has a flat ferrule and comes in both short and long handles. With its sharp edge, it's useful for precise strokes and for lines and curves. They come in bristle and synthetic hairs and are generally used with watercolors and acrylics.
bright - A bright is similar to a flat but the width and length of the brush head is equal in size. It has a flat ferrule and comes both short and long handles, though usually found in long handles. It's typically used for short controlled strokes. They come in natural, bristle, & synthetic hairs and are generally used with oils and acrylics.
oval wash - Wash brushes come in a variety of shapes (oval, flat, etc). Washes typically have flat ferrules and come in short handles. They produce a soft edge with no point. It's a very useful brush for laying in large areas of color (or water), for wetting surfaces, and for picking up (absorbing) excess paint. They come in natural, bristle, and synthetic hairs and are generally used with watercolors. However i have used them in some of my acrylic works.
fan - Fan brushes have spread out hairs like a fan. They have flat ferrules and come in both short and long handles, although they're often found in short handles. They are used for blending, smoothing, and textural effects. They come in natural, bristle, and synthetic hairs and can be used in all mediums.
Previously covered paint brush topics:
- Create Daily: The Paint Brush (Basics & the anatomy of a brush)
- Create Daily: The Paint Brush: Hairs & Bristles
I will be continuing with shapes next week as well as talking briefly about sizes and giving you my recommendations.
